Artur Menezes
Into the Blues: Building Blocks for the Intermediate Player
Hoping to learn the blues from scratch, or tired of playing the same old licks? This course was made for you! Learn and master a broad range of practical techniques that every Blues player needs — form, variations, turnarounds, entrances and exits, hallmark phrasing and more. Additionally, you’ll walk away being able to play licks in the styles of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, and B.B. King — a great set of tools for any blues player!
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Meet Artur Menezes
Artur Menezes has taken the Blues world by storm with his energy as a Blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Awards include: the "Gibson/Albert King Award" for Best Guitarist by the Blues Foundation; 3rd prize in the International Blues Challenge; and Grand Prize in a contest sponsored by Ernie Ball at the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Originally from Brazil, Artur plays traditional and modern blues but mixes in other styles to achieve his own signature sound.
A touring and recording musician, Artur has shared the stage with Joe Satriani, opened for Bobby Rush, and Buddy Guy, and released several albums and EPs.
Into the Blues
Building Blocks for the Intermediate Player
Starting with the fundamentals, moving to the licks of famed blues players, and finishing with modern alterations, this course takes you step-by-step through different aspects of playing the blues. Master them, and you’ll use them forever, whether on stage or at your next jam session!
This course offers 30 lessons covering 3+ hours of material in step-by-step, digestible presentation.
Full Course Listing
Best Suited for Intermediate Players
This course offers 30 lessons covering 3+ hours of material in step-by-step, digestible presentation. View the full course outline below.
Series Introduction
Artur discusses his new course, what you can expect to learn, and what you should know going in.
6:28 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Harmony & the 12 Bar Blues
Understanding the form of the 12 bar blues is foundational to blues guitar playing. Internalizing where the chords land and understanding the harmony is key to mastering the traditional blues form.
5:11 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Fast Change and Minor Blues
We've learned the standard 12 bar form. There are many different feels that fit within that basic form. In this lesson, Artur takes a look at a variation in the 12 bar blues: the slow change and fast change concepts.
6:32 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Slow Blues
Although a very common type of blues, don't be fooled by the word "slow" in slow blues. Slow does not mean easy! In fact, it can be a challenging feel to master. Artur gives us his take on the slow blues.
9:14 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Shuffle
The shuffle is one of the core feels of blues. In this lesson Artur talks about how to "feel" the shuffle, and gives some ideas of what to play over it.
3:33 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Turnarounds
Turnarounds are lines played over the bars 11 and 12. They're commonly played on blues tunes and their function is to conclude the "sentence"(round). Like when you're reading a book and you finish a paragraph or a chapter.
8:48 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 1) + Licks
To improvise over a blues tune, major or minor, the Minor Pentatonic Scale is a foundational component. In this lesson Artur explains the scale, and will teach you the 1st shape and give you 4 licks that will make you sound bluesy!
12:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 2) + Licks
Now on to the 2nd shape of the minor pentatonic scale. Get ready for the scale plus 4 in position licks that will make you sound amazing!
8:00 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 3) + Licks
Another scale shape, another 4 licks! This time it's shape 3 of the minor pentatonic scale.
8:18 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 4) + Licks
The 4th shape add yet more flavors to your minor pentatonic scale licks. Again, we learn the shape and learn 4 cool licks to go along with it!
7:11 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 5) + Licks
In this lesson Artur teaches us the last shape of the minor pentatonic scale. And as with the other shapes, Artur will give us 4 licks to go along with shape 5.
6:33 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Bends and Vibratos
Bends and Vibrato are some of if not the most important things to consider when you express yourself through guitar. They are what make you sound like you. In this lesson Artur shows us some vibrato and bending techniques you can learn, and in time they will help you develop your own sound!
9:10 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Intro Licks - From the Top and From the Five
Have you ever attended to a blues jam session and heard someone yell "Shuffle in D, from the five! 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4..."? What is that! In this lesson Artur teaches you those expressions and licks to start shuffle and slow tunes.
7:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Ending Licks
Finishing strong is very important when playing the blues! In this lesson, Artur explains how a blues tune usually ends and I'll give you some licks for this.
8:25 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
BB King Style Licks
It's important to copy the masters in order to understand the blues language and with time develop your own phrasing. In this video I'll show some licks from BB King.
6:04 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Albert King Style Licks
It's important to listen to and emulate the masters in order to understand blues language and feel. In this lesson, Artur shows us some licks from the legendary bluesman Albert King.
7:16 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Stevie Ray Vaughn Style Licks
When we study the blues greats, it's inevitable that their style will seep into our own playing. Just like we can hear Hendrix in Stevie Ray Vaughn's playing, Stevie Ray's playing can find it's way into yours! Here are some Stevie Ray style licks from Artur to get you on your way.
13:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Chord Substitutions
Using movements and chord substitution are very important to make the song more musical, mature and less boring for the players and for the audience. In this lesson Artur focuses on the "half diminished" chord substitution in a slow blues, major key, using chormaticism to move the chords.
10:28 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Soloing with the Chord Substitution
Now Artur shows us an interesting way of improvising using chords and their arpeggios as the basis of the solo. He also shows us some licks based on the half diminished arpeggio.
11:18 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Major Pentatonic Over the Blues
Players like BB King and Derek Trucks mastered playing the major scale over a traditional blues progression. In this lesson Artur shows you how to integrate this into your playing.
10:25 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Runs
This lesson is all about an easy but important exercise meant to connect all of the minor pentatonic shapes. Artur also gives us some fast pentatonic runs to help with our speed and dexterity.
6:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Plus the Sharp 4
Instead of thinking modally, Artur is the type of player that likes to think: Minor Pentatonic + Target notes. In this lesson, he shows us some licks using the minor pentatonic, plus the sharp 4.
7:19 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 3rd
The minor pentatonic plus the major 3rd is the subject of this lesson. Get ready to add a major flavor to your tonality!
6:59 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 6
More flavors to add to your playing - Adding the major 6 to the minor pentatonic scale gives that "dorian" sound!
5:06 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 9
Adding the major 9 flavor to your minor pentatonic scale licks will give you a more modern sound. Join Artur as he explores this latest addition.
4:55 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Altered Scale Licks Over the Changes
Using the altered scale in just the right spot can start suggesting jazz tonality in your blues playing. In this lesson, Artur shows us the scale and how and where to use it!
8:27 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Dominant Diminished Scale Licks
Dominant diminished. Yet another scale that takes you into new territory, tonally speaking. Artur gives us some cool licks to use with this very unique scale.
8:33 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Chromatic Licks
Using chromaticism is an easy way to add a more modern approach and tonality. Artur uses chromatic connecting points to show us this concept.
7:00 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Blues Licks
The minor blues is a foundational blues style that has it's roots deep in the genre. Artur talks about this feel and shows us some of his favorite minor blues licks.
7:52 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Jazzy Swing Blues
The more we move towards jazz tonality, the more sophisticated our blues becomes. In this lesson Artur improvises over a song from his most recent album. Talk about a modern evolution! This is entering full on Jazz territory!
6:38 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
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